Launching apparatus.



C. HUNT.

LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22. 1909. RENEWED MAR. 24, 1916.

1 ,QQQfiQfi. Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

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C. HUNT.

LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 22. 1909. RENEWED MAR. 24. I916.

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Patented Oct. 24,1916.

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C. HUNT.

LAUNCHING APPARATUS.

APFLiCATION FILED APR.22.1909. RENEWED MAR. 24. 1916.

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CHARLES HUNT, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

LAUNGHING APPARATUS.

menses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Get. 24, 1916.

Application filed April 22, 1909, Serial No. 491,439. Renewed March 24, 1916. Serial No. 86,503.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES HUNT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the borough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Launching Apparatus, of which the following is a description.

This invention relates to launching apparatus and has particular reference to apparatus for maintaining, and controlling the movements of, the davits of the launching mechanism so as to properly and quickly raise and lower boats over the sides of a vessel.

It is an important object of my invention to provide a controlling mechanism by means of which, after the lifeboat is loaded, it can be quickly swung by the davits over the side of the vessel and lowered into the water under absolute control. Other important objects are to provide a controlling mechanism by which the davits can be first moved outwardly so as to clear the boat from the side of the vessel and then the boat quickly lowered into the water; to provide a device by means of which the speed with which the boat is lowered into the water can be regulated and controlled; and to also provide means by which the operation of raising and lowering the boats over the side of the vessel will be performed uniformly, at both ends of the boat, thus avoiding liability of spilling the occupants into the water.

lVith the above objects in view, and others which will be noted during the course of this description, my invention consists in the parts, features, elements and combinations of elements as hereinafter described and claimed.

In order that my invent-ion may be readily understood I have provided drawings wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of my apparatus in place 011 a vessel, certain parts being broken away; Fig. 2 is a top-plan view of the controlling mechanism, the frame inclosing the same being shown partially in section; Fig. 3 is a view partially in section and in elevation of the brake mechanism; Fig. 4'. is a vertical section of the launching mechanism taken substantially centrally thereof; Fig. '5 is a detail view F showing in section and in elevation portions of the controlling mechanism; Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the boat and one of the davits, and a central vertical section of the launching mechanism, substantially the sameas in F ig.- 4:; Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the boat in the chocks; and Fig. 8 is an end elevation and partial section of another form of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates the hurricane or top deck of the vessel, and 2 a lower deck, or a rail of a lower deck, in which the davits 3 are journaled, a ball-bearing 4, of any suitable construction being provided for the lower end of the davits in the said rail or lower deck 2 and a suitable ball-bearing 5, being provided in the frame of the launching mechanism for the support and operation of the davits between their ends, as shown in Fig. 4:. The davits are of the usual construction with their upper ends 3 curved as shown in Fig. 1-, each of, which has connected to it by a universal joint 6, the pulley 7, of the launching-tackle 8. This universal joint connection may be of any suitable type and the specific construction thereof forms no part of my present invention, the latter, in this "connection, having reference only to the ability of the launching-tackle to have absolute freedom of movement relatively to the davits so that the boat B, can be properly and rapidly handled. The pulley 9, of the launching-tackle of each davit, is linked to a releasing-device 10, which may be of any approved form, but preferably such as is disclosed in my application for patent Serial No. 488,551, filed April 8, 1909. The boat is supported in suitable checks consisting of the pairs of journaled members 12 and 12 embracing opposite sides of the boat at opposite ends and connected in pairs on the opposite sides of the boat by rods or links 13, so that all the members of the checks can be manipulated together. Each of the rock-shafts 1a and l-ilto which the members of the chocks are secured in pairs, has connected to it a handle or crank 15, by means of either of which all the members of the chocks can be operated simultaneously to be thrown into flat or horizontal position, in either direction longitudinally of the boat, to release the latter preparatory to launching the same over the side of the vessel.

The cable 16, of the launching-tackle of each davit, extends over a pulley 17, carried by said davit and from tience extends to the shaft or drum 18, of the controlling and manipulating mechanism, each davit having its own controlling and manipulating mechanism, but the two being connected for conjoint and simultaneous operation and timed so as to operate the davits in unison, as presently described. In each instance, referring to Figs. 1 to 6, the controlling and manipulating mechanism consists of the base-plate 19, secured in any suitable manner to the deck 1, of the vessel, and an inclosing-frame 20, given a form or contour corresponding to the general conformation of the mechanism contained therein and having at the inner end thereof a door 21, hinged at its bottom at 22, and provided at its top with a spring-latch 23, for securely closing the same. The da'vit passes through the deck 1 of the. vessel from the lower deck or rail 2, through the ball-bearing 5, 1n the baseplate and hate bearing 24, in the top of the frame, near its outer end, a hood or shield 25, being fixed to the davit so as to protect the bearing 24, and the interior mechanism from the elements and avoid the possibility of dirt accumulation and rust. The drum or shaft 18, upon which the cable of the launching-tackle is wound, is journ'aled in the up'per'part of the inner end of the frame just below the opening or longitudinal slit 26, through which the cable reeves in operation, the edges of said slit or opening being rounded and made smooth, as at 27, to prevent wear upon the cable. The shaft 18, extends outside the frame and is there provided with a crank-handle 28, for operation in winding up the cable to raise the boat from the water, and, just within the casing, said shaft is provided with a gear 29, having attached to it an enlarged disk 30, which prevents the cable from becoming entangled with the gear, or interfering with the latter in any manner. The gear 29 meshes with the gear 31, journaled upon a stud 32, carried by the frame 20, said gear meshing in turn with the gear 33, carried by the shaft 34, journaled at one endin the casing of the launching mechanism, at opposite sides thereof, as at 35 and 35 and extend'ingalong the deck underthe boat, centrally of the cho'cks, to the other casing of the launching mechanism, where its oppositeend is journaled in the opposite sides of said other casing. This shaft 34. is provided with a bevel-gear 36, splined thereon so as to rotate therewith, butfree to slide longitudinally thereof, and the hub 37 of which gear is re'zarwardly extended and provided with a circumferential groove 38, in which operates the forked portion 39, of a lever 40, journaled at one end on a bearing 41, of the base-plate 19, and having its" free outer end 42, connected by a coiled-spring 43, to a rigid part of the casing, or a pin thereof, as indicated at44. *Thisspring has the function of holding the lever in a normal position which will hold the bevel-gear 36, normally in coiiperative relation with the bevel-gear 45, carried on the upper surface of the gear 46, journaled horizontally in the base-plate at 47, this gear meshing with the gear 48, fixed to the davit and arranged just above the ball-bearing 5, of the latter. The base is provided with a curved flange 49, which conforms, in a measure, to the outline of the two meshing gears 46 and 4S, and nearly surrounds the same so as to act, in ameasure, as a protection from water which might get within the casing and also to, in a measure, retain the lubricant applied to the gearing.

Journaled in the bed of the frame, beside the davit, and so as to overlap the gear, is adisk or plate 50, the form of which is miniaterlal, butwlnch, on its upper surface, carries a pin 51, normally 1n engagement with the free end of the lever 40. This disk or plate is also connected by a pin 52, to one end of a manipulating rod 53, the other end of which is provided with a verticallyexten'ded handle 54, and directly thereunder with a depending catch 55, which cooperates with the lug or latch 56, extending vertical'ly from the base 19, near the inner end thereof. The disk or plate 50, is also provided on its bottom surface with two pins, the one 57 cooperating with the gear 48, when the said plate is moved far enough in onedirection and the other 58 coiiperating with said gear when said plate is moved far enough in the opposite direction. The func tions of these pins will be fully described presently; but, it will be seen that the disk or plate can be turned upon its axis 59, by means of the manipulating rod 53, and held in one position by the catch 55, at the end of said rod, and in another position, when the bar is released, by the spring 43, which controls the gear-shifting lever 40, through the medium of the pin 51, on the upper surface of said plate. The crankshaft 18, near the end opposite the crank, is provided with a brake-drum 59, the opposite sides of which are flanged to maintain the brake-strap or band 60, from lateral movement thereon, the said drum being fixed to the shaft 18, and one end of the strap being firmly scoured to a pin 61, carried by the frame and the other end of which brake-band is connected by a pin 62, to the forked lug 63, extending vertically from the foot-lever 61, journaled to the base-plate lug G5, and having its free end provided with the roughened tread 66, this free end extending to near the door 21 of the frame.

Bearing in mind that each davit 8 is manipulated and controlled by a mechanism such as just described and that the cables of the launching-tackle are secured, respectively, to the drums of said counterpart-manipulating mechanism in any suitable manner, the following mode of operation will be readily understood: The normal position of the davits connected, by the launchingtackle, to the boat is shown in Fig. 1 and the boat is supported by the chocks and is ready to receive its occupants. Assuming the boat to be loaded, and viewing Fig. 1, one or both of the hand-cranks 28, will first be turned slightly to wind up the cable and lift the boat free from the chocks to relieve the latter of pressure, the locking-pin 58, in cofiperation with the gear 48, not hindering this operation since the movement of said gear 48 will be opposite the arrow 7, in Fig. 2. Then either one of the hand-cranks 15 is turned down in either direction, which will turn all the members of the chocks down fiat atonce and clear the Way for the boat to be swung out from the chocks. The operator then puts his foot on the brake-lever to as to control the shaft 18 and the unwinding of the cable and gives a pull upon the handle 54 of the manipulating rod 53, sufficient to clear the locking-pin 58 from the gear 48, but not to shift the lever 40 by the pin 51. The weight of the boat will then unwind the cable from shaft 18, under control of the operator, who,one or more of them,can operate the brake and handcrank 28 at the same time. Soon as the shaft 18 begins to turn, the gear 29 will rotate in the direction of the arrow at and the successive intermeshing gears will rotate in the directions indicated by arrows b, 0, cl, 6 and 7, Fig. 2, resulting in turning the davits and causing them to swing toward the point of view, Fig. 1, or to the outside of the vessel. The boat will be lowered comparatively little during this swinging movement, and for less than a halfturn of the gears, the davits will swing the boat clear of the side of the vessel and stand with their curved arms 3 and the boat overhanging the water. When this position has been reached, the operator pulls the manipulating rod 53 on each davit mechanism, way back and latches the same over the lug 56, thus shifting the bevel-gear 36, from mesh with the bevel-gear 45, and preventing any further swinging movement of the davits. In the meantime, the operator has held his foot upon the brake-lever, thus maintaining control of the crank-shaft. The movement of plate 50, to shift gear 36, brought the stoppin 57 between two teeth of the gear 48, thus locking the same and the davits. The boat is then lowered under control of the brake, which is manipulated as desired by the operator, and the moment the boat is at rest upon the water the releasing-devices are opened and the launching-tackle swings free, whereupon the boat can be rowed away. The h and-cranks are then turned in the direction opposite the arrow (1,, Fig. 2, thus drawing in the launching-tackle and, at the proper moment, the manipulating rod 53 is released, the spring 43 will recoil, reversing the lever 40 and shifting the hub 37, and the gears 36 and 45 will again intermesh. Continued movement of the hand-crank will swing the davits inwardly and another boat, placed on the ehocks, can be loaded and connected to the launching-tackle preparatory to launching. Instead of operating the davits by the hand-crank, an electric motor, or any kind of motive power, can be employed to drive the shaft 34, and operate the launching mechanism. In this instance, an electric motor of ordinary form is illustrated at E, Fig. 1, and secured to the deck of the vessel adjacent the frame of the manipulating apparatus, the driving-shaft 67 of which motor is extended beyond its casing, and provided at its outer end with a pinion 68, in mesh with a pinion 69, carried by the outer end of the shaft 34, which, for the purpose, is extended through the casing. Obviously, when the motor is set in motion, the shaft 34 will be set in motion and the davits will be operated through the bevel-gear 36 45 and the gears 4648, as before described.

To show the adaptability of my invention, the davits can be applied to -practically any style of vessel and, for example, is illustrated in connection with a vessel having a single deck 7 0, or as applied to but one deck of any vessel, see Fig. 8. In this form of my invention, the davit is journaled by an ordinary ball-bearing 71, in the deck, and extends through the top of the casing 72, where it is provided with another ball-bearing 73, which gives rigidity to the davit and enables it to sustain any weight or power applied thereto without binding in its bearings. The frame, for the purpose, instead of being made to conform to the general outline or disposition of the manipulating mechanism, is made substantially rectangular in form so as to afford the upper hearing 73, at a point near the middle of the davit, thus giving solidity to the structure.

It will be noted that, when the launching mechanism is not in use, the door 21 will be closed and all'its manipulating mechanism will be under cover and out of sight of curious or meddling persons, so that the mechanism can be kept in perfect condition and always be relied upon.

It will also be noticed that the casing is so constructed as to be practically water-tight and, if desired, a hinged or sliding door or shutter can be applied to close the slot through whichthe cable reeves, a latch or any suitable device being employed to lock the same when closed. In this manner, all possibility of corrosion, rusting or other deteriorating conditions are avoided.

It will also be seen thatone of the importhe 'factthat the-boat can berloaded on the chocks, thechocksthen :removed and the boat launched zunder-absolute control; and another important "advantage resides in the x fact that the boat, through my manipulatfor swinging the boat; means for simultaneously turning the davits including a tram of gearing; means whereby the normal operation of said gearing, at the Wlll of the operator, can be mterrupted and a portion of ingrmechanism, isfir-st swung free and clear said gearing locked from operation; and of the vessel and thenlowered quickly, but means for controlling the movement of the under absolute control,-into thewater. Inboat during said interruption. cidentally, if releasing-devices, such .as 5. A launching mechanism having, in .10 shownzin my aforesaid application, areemcombination, davits and launching-tackle for ployed, a single, short movement of the swinging the boat; means for operating the handleatthe toggle-joint will release the davits including a train of gearing; means boat from the launching-tackle; or, if an for locking a portion of the gearing from automaticvreleasing device be employed, as movement; and means whereby to control. 3155 "illustrated in my .application Serial No the operation of the launching-tackle when S0 488,550,1filed April 8, 1909, the boat will said gearing is thus locked. beautomat-ically released from the'launch- 6. A launching mechanism comprising ing-tacklethe :moment the boat strikes the davits and launching-tackle for swinging water. the boat; means for simultaneously actuat- -.e2 ,0 Having thus describedmy invention, what ing the davits including a train of gearing s5 I.claim:.and desire to secure by Letters Pathaving a shiftable member; means for shiftent is: ing said'member at the will of the operator 1. A launching mechanismforboats havso as to break the train of gearing; and at ing, in combination, davits and launchingthe same time lock'from operation a portion 42 tackle 'for.swingingthe'boat; a launching of said gearing; and means for controlling 3. leasing -the gear to permit turning of the mechanism operatively connected to each davit including a train of gearing; and *means for normally :locking. the same from operation in :one direction; means for rethe launching-tackle at all times.

.7. A launching mechanism for boats having, in combination, davits and launching-tackle for swinging the'boat; means for turning the davits and lowering the boat 9r therefrom including a train of gearing; and a spring-controlled device for breaking the train of gearing and simultaneously locking the davits from turning.

davits; "means for breaking the train of gearing andsimultaneously lockingthe same "from turning; and means forrcontrolling the boat while the same is'being lowered.

i 2. A launching mechanism having, in 8. A launching mechanism comprising combination, means for supporting the boatd-avits and launehingtackle for swinging on shipboard, davits and launching-tackle the boat; means for turningthe davits and for swinging the boatymeans for turning the lowering the boat therefrom including a davits without materially lowering the boat train of gearing comprising a shi'ftable 3& to carry the boat clear of the supporting member; means for normally locking the means and of the vessel; launching mechagear from movement; and means for releasnism '-'for raising and lowering the boat ining the gear and simultaneously moving the eluding a sliiftable gear and agear lockingshiftable member from its operative reladevice and means for actuating the same; tion in the train of gearing.

and a'br'ake'for controlling the launching 9. A launching mechanism comprising mechanism at all times'whereby the boat, davits and launching-tackle for swinging while being swung and lowered into the the boat; means forturning the davits and water, is under-perfect control. lowering the boat therefrom including a 3. A launching mechanism having, in train of gearing containing a. shiftable mem- 959 combination, a pair of davits and compleber; means for locking the gear from movemental launching-tackle for swinging the ment; means by the movement of which, boat; a launching mechanism operatively to a certain extent, the gearing can be unconnected to each davit, including a shiftlocked and by a further movement of which able gear and gear locking device and means the shiftable member of the gear can be for actuating the same; an operating conmoved from its cooperative relation in the motion between the two launching mechatrain; and a controlling mechanism for connisms whereby they are caused to operate in trolling the lowering of the boat. unison to actuate the "davits to swing the 10. A launching mechanism comprising boat inboard and outboard; means preventdavits and launching-tackle for swinging ing the" boat from being materially lowered the boat; means for turning the davits withwhile being swung; and treadle-operated out materially lowering the boat therefrom, means fo'rcontr'olling the launchingmechasaid means including two parallel shafts, nism. gearing between said shafts, a system of 4. A launching mechanism having, in gearing between oneof the shafts and the \65 combination, davits and launching-tackle davits, and means for locking the latter 1-30 gearing from operation; and a controlling device for controlling the lowering of the boat into the water.

11. A launching mechanism comprising davits and launching-tackle for swinging the boat; and means for turning the davits without materially lowering the boat therefrom, said means including parallel shafts, gearing between the two shafts, gearing be tween one of the shafts and the davits, said gearing including a shiftable member, and

means whereby said member may be shifted at will and the gearing between the davits and one of the shafts can be locked from operation.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto, signed my name in the presence of two sub scribing witnesses.

CHARLES HUNT. WVitnesses:

CHAs. M00. CHAPMAN, M. HERSKOVITZ.

@opies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatenta, Washington, D. G. 

